As we celebrate the feast of St. Patrick, our patron saint, consider this excerpt from his Confessio:
"We are a letter written by Christ… Although this letter may not be refined, it is very strong and true, written in your hearts not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God."
May his words move us to bring good news and happiness to others, especially in these challenging times.
Message to Parishioners read at all Masses on March 14-15, 2020
I am sure that many of you have heard about the bishop’s decision to cancel all public Masses until further notice. This was a decision he made in consultation with the Presbyteral Council and other advisory groups, as well as input from the medical community and government leaders. I recognize that the result of this decision will be difficult for all of us to bear.
Effective Monday, March 16, there will be no public Masses offered on weekdays or weekends. This applies to St. Patrick Parish and all parishes in the Diocese of San Diego.
The church will be open for personal private prayer every day from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm. You are encouraged to make a visit and spend time with the Lord in prayer. Tuesday afternoon Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue.
Our parish offices are open on a shortened schedule. You may call or drop by Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Time for confessions will continue to be held every Saturday at 3:00 pm. However, our Parish Penance Service and all penance services throughout the Diocese are cancelled.
Our parish school is closed until further notice. The children will have distance learning from their home facilitated by our teachers.
All parish activities are cancelled. This includes meetings of any parish organization or ministry. All faith formation, youth ministry, prayer groups, and Bible studies are cancelled until further notice. Likewise, choir rehearsals, group baptismal preparation, group marriage preparation, RCIA, RICA, and the remaining Lenten programs are cancelled. This includes any group that meets at the Fr. Moore Center. Even Bingo is cancelled.
Weddings and funerals will continue to be celebrated. Our parish offices will remain open.
Many are asking how long will these policies be in effect. At this point, there is no way to know. I ask your patience in understanding as we move into uncharted waters. My personal feeling is that it is better to err on the side of caution. So I fully support the bishop’s position. Thank you for understanding.
During this time of inactivity, we will use our parish email system to communicate with parishioners to offer spiritual reflections and make announcements. If you do not receive emails from us from time to time, please call the office and we can add you.
Many cable TV channels broadcast daily and Sunday Mass. Many parishes livestream Masses on weekends through their websites. Use your search engine to find a Mass at a time that is convenient for you.
Spiritual Communion:
While we can watch the Mass on TV or through the internet, an important element is missing: most of us receive the Lord sacramentally in Holy Communion each time we participate in the Mass. This is the highpoint of our celebration of the Mass, our greatest form of participation.
In cases when people are not able to receive Holy Communion, the Church encourages us to make an act of “spiritual communion,” where we unite ourselves to God through prayer. It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to complete that union in the reception of Holy Communion.
Countless saints incorporated this type of prayer into their daily lives, not being satisfied with receiving Jesus in the Eucharist once a week or even once a day. Making an act of spiritual communion for them was an essential part of life and drew them closer to God on a daily basis.
Here is one of the traditional prayers that can help us make a spiritual Communion. As you watch the Mass online or TV, pray this prayer and meditate on the words as you make them your own.
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
A special prayer for healing during this difficult time in English y español
